Meta Platforms appeared before European Union antitrust officials on Tuesday in an effort to block a possible order that could require the company to give competing artificial intelligence chatbot providers free access to WhatsApp, according to Reuters. The closed-door hearing in Brussels marks the latest development in an ongoing regulatory dispute between the U.S. technology company and EU competition authorities.
The hearing follows an additional charge sheet sent by the European Commission last month, outlining concerns that Meta may be using its market position to unfairly restrict competitors, according to Reuters. The filing forms part of an interim measures process as the Commission continues investigating whether Meta has abused its market power. EU officials are expected to decide in the coming months whether to impose temporary remedies while the broader case continues.
Meta introduced a policy on January 15 that allowed only its own Meta AI assistant to operate on WhatsApp. The company later revised that policy in March, saying rival AI developers would be permitted to use the messaging platform, but only if they paid for access. That move prompted a second regulatory charge from the Commission, adding to an earlier complaint issued in February tied to possible temporary measures aimed at preventing Meta from shutting out competing AI services.
Meta’s legal team, including lawyer Tim Lamb, attended the hearing in Brussels, while company executives based in the United States were expected to follow the four-hour proceeding remotely, according to Reuters.
Read more: EU Moves to Force Meta to Restore Rival AI Access on WhatsApp
Meta defended its position ahead of the hearing, arguing that regulators were effectively trying to force the company to provide access to its paid business messaging product at no cost to major technology firms.
“This means that a small bakery in France paying to use the service to take croissant orders will be picking up the tab for OpenAI. Small European businesses shouldn’t foot OpenAI’s bill,” a Meta spokesperson said.
European Commission officials, including Deputy Director-General for Antitrust Linsey McCallum and director Carlota Reyners Fontana, declined to comment as they entered the hearing.
Also taking part in the proceedings was The Interaction Company of California, the developer of the Poke.com AI assistant and one of the complainants in the case.
“Meta is seeking to monopolize the use of WhatsApp for AI services by reserving it to its own offerings and excluding competitors like us,” Felix Schlegel, co-founder and CTO of The Interaction Company of California, said ahead of the hearing.
“We welcome the Commission’s action and its consideration of interim measures. At the hearing, we will make clear that these measures are necessary and should be adopted without delay,” he said.
OpenAI and French AI startup Simone were also listed among the participants in Tuesday’s hearing, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter, per Reuters.
Source: Reuters
